ID :
101720
Fri, 01/22/2010 - 08:50
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://www.oananews.org//node/101720
The shortlink copeid
India and US sign agreement to standardise security procedures
New Delhi, Jan 21 (PTI) An agreement to standardise
various security procedures between India and the US was
signed Thursday which will, among other things, lay down
parameters for deployment of sky marshals in flights between
the two countries.
Issues relating to transfer of technology, including full
body scanners and X-ray systems, and training were also
discussed at a two-day meeting of a Joint Working Group of
officials of the US Transportation Security Administration
(TSA) and the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS) here.
The Indian side requested that dual screening of baggage
on US-bound flights be dispensed with, an official
spokesperson said.
This would involve the US side surveying the security
operations at the originating airports, she said, adding that
India would facilitate an early visit by the TSA to enable
this process.
Two Memoranda of Understanding were signed -- one on
the deployment of sky marshals and the other for cooperation
in airport technical visits, marking the beginning of
continued cooperation on security issues. The spokesperson
said the JWG would meet periodically to take forward the
issues agreed upon.
"The launch of the US-India Aviation Security Working
Group demonstrates our increasingly close cooperation on
mutual commercial and security interests, matters of critical
interest to the people of both our countries," US Ambassador
Timothy J Roemer said in a statement.
Besides deployment of sky marshals or air marshals, the
issues taken up at the meeting included technical cooperation
and training in best practices as also visits to promote
Indo-US technical cooperation.
The concept of an Aviation Security Force and adoption
of best practices in security with cooperation of both sides
came up during discussions. Indian side sought American
cooperation on source identification of human body scanners as
well as X-ray baggage systems.
Talks were also held on bringing about conformity with
aviation security provisions established by the UN body,
International Civil Aviation Organisation.
It was agreed that while carriers flying out of India
to the US were required to comply with the Emergency and
Security Directives of the TSA, such directives essentially
should be routed through BCAS and would apply reciprocally.
A US Embassy release said the Joint Working Group on
security was conceived at the 2009 US-India Aviation
Partnership Summit in Washington and in accordance with the
bilateral goals of the Indo-US Air Transport Agreement signed
in 2005.
"The purpose of the working group is to build upon the
strategic partnership between the US Government and the
Government of India to enhance international civil aviation
security. The group envisions subsequent meetings to be hosted
alternatively by each country," it said. PTI ARC
ANU
various security procedures between India and the US was
signed Thursday which will, among other things, lay down
parameters for deployment of sky marshals in flights between
the two countries.
Issues relating to transfer of technology, including full
body scanners and X-ray systems, and training were also
discussed at a two-day meeting of a Joint Working Group of
officials of the US Transportation Security Administration
(TSA) and the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS) here.
The Indian side requested that dual screening of baggage
on US-bound flights be dispensed with, an official
spokesperson said.
This would involve the US side surveying the security
operations at the originating airports, she said, adding that
India would facilitate an early visit by the TSA to enable
this process.
Two Memoranda of Understanding were signed -- one on
the deployment of sky marshals and the other for cooperation
in airport technical visits, marking the beginning of
continued cooperation on security issues. The spokesperson
said the JWG would meet periodically to take forward the
issues agreed upon.
"The launch of the US-India Aviation Security Working
Group demonstrates our increasingly close cooperation on
mutual commercial and security interests, matters of critical
interest to the people of both our countries," US Ambassador
Timothy J Roemer said in a statement.
Besides deployment of sky marshals or air marshals, the
issues taken up at the meeting included technical cooperation
and training in best practices as also visits to promote
Indo-US technical cooperation.
The concept of an Aviation Security Force and adoption
of best practices in security with cooperation of both sides
came up during discussions. Indian side sought American
cooperation on source identification of human body scanners as
well as X-ray baggage systems.
Talks were also held on bringing about conformity with
aviation security provisions established by the UN body,
International Civil Aviation Organisation.
It was agreed that while carriers flying out of India
to the US were required to comply with the Emergency and
Security Directives of the TSA, such directives essentially
should be routed through BCAS and would apply reciprocally.
A US Embassy release said the Joint Working Group on
security was conceived at the 2009 US-India Aviation
Partnership Summit in Washington and in accordance with the
bilateral goals of the Indo-US Air Transport Agreement signed
in 2005.
"The purpose of the working group is to build upon the
strategic partnership between the US Government and the
Government of India to enhance international civil aviation
security. The group envisions subsequent meetings to be hosted
alternatively by each country," it said. PTI ARC
ANU
